My Ebenezer

I got a call today from one of our associate pastors. He told me about a lady in our church who was interested in talking to someone about her infertility.

Rewind about 3 ½ years.

I got a group of girls together who were all facing the same obstacles to starting a family that we were – well, maybe the obstacles weren’t exactly the same, but you know what I mean. Anyway, we started a little Bible Study slash support group for women and we met for several months. The group just kind of dissolved as we all “graduated” in one way or another.

So I’ve been contacted a couple of times by pastors in our church asking if I’d be willing to talk with women who were in that same situation now. Absolutely. In fact, today I told him he didn’t even need to ask me about it anymore – just give out my contact information as needed.

As soon as he told me about her, I was reminded of something I heard in a sermon week before last. You can’t really minister to someone else’s hurt until you’ve experienced your own.

How grateful I am for the opportunity to listen to someone else who’s walking in shoes I’ve already outgrown. (or thrown out, maybe) I really hope she calls me and I can’t wait to hear her story. I hope I can be of some encouragement to her and avoid saying all the stupid things that people who aren’t members of the club often say. One thing I’ve learned is that membership in the “infertility club” is a lifelong commitment. Even when you are no longer active, you still belong and help others feel like they’re not alone.